This is your genial webmaster John with the latest Tenerife Information Centre Newsletter!

In this month's issue, we'll be taking a look at:

- Fimucite- The Battle of Santa Cruz- Apologies for Sting- Website new pages, updates and questions since last newsletter

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Fimucite 6

Fimucite is an annual festival, inaugurated in 2007, celebrating music used in films. Taking place in the first half of July, it features, amongst others, the Tenerife Film Orchestra and Choir.

This year, its sixth festival happens to coincide with the 100th anniversary of American film maker Universal Pictures and so, naturally, will predominantly feature sound tracks from that studio's prestigious output.

Expect to hear familiar music from such blockbuster films as The Magnificent Seven, Gladiator, Phantom of the Opera, The Lord of the Rings, Flashdance, Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark...the list goes on.

Occurring between the 7th and the 14th, venues used will include the Auditorio de Tenerife, Magma Arts and Congress, Teatro Guimera, La Laguna University and the Auditorio Infanta Leonor in Los Cristianos.

Full details plus ticket availability can be found on the Fimucite website.

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The Battle of Santa Cruz

The 25th of this month is a big day in Tenerife's capital city, for it marks the defeat of Rear Admiral Nelson, when he tried to take the port, in 1797.

Back at the close of the 18th century, Spain held much territory in the Americas and her ships were constantly crossing the Atlantic with treasure from these lands. Tenerife was a stopping-off point for these vessels and, therefore, was considered a prime target by the British.

The date of the 25th is the culmination of the battle, but it was actually initiated three days earlier, on the 22nd.

Admiral John Jervis (Nelson's boss, if you like) had already dispatched a couple of ships to check out Tenerife's defenses. This action alerted Tenerife's military leader, General Antonio Gutierrez de Otero y Santaya, to a possible imminent attack, so he promptly set about reinforcing Santa Cruz's defenses and raising extra troops. Thus, when Nelson arrived, on July 17th, the Spanish were more than ready for him.

After several days formulating a plan, Nelson initiated it on the night of the 22nd. Several small boats attempted to reach the shore to the north of the city, but were hindered by adverse coastal currents. This, together with heavy cannon fire from the Spanish, forced a retreat.

A second attempt was made, with frigates towing the boats further in. This time, some British troops managed to land ashore. Again, the aggressors were routed.

Nelson then decided to make a direct assault on the city. On the night of the 24th, his fleet approached the shore, with muffled oars, aiming to take the San Cristobal castle, where the city's main defenses were. They were soon spotted and were subjected to a heavy and prolongled bombardment from the Spanish cannons.

Nelson himself managed to step ashore, which was when he was shot in the arm, resulting in its having to be amputated.

Out of all Nelson's fleet, only one was successful. The Culloden, captained by Thomas Troubridge, managed to capture the convent of La Consolacion, containing 350 Spanish troops.

He was in total isolation, however, with Nelson and the rest of the fleet having had to retreat and being powerless to help. Despite a show of bravado, when he threatened to burn the city if the Spanish failed to surrender, Troubridge's situation was hopeless, especially when General Gutierrez ignored the threat and sent troops to cut off any means of escape. Troubridge eventually requested a truce to be signed with honourable terms for a withdrawal. This was granted in the early hours of the 25th and that was the end of that.

The three day conflict cost the lives of 250 British and 30 Spanish.

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Sting!

Yes, I told all you subscribers last month about the lute-playing Geordie visiting the island for a concert in Santa Cruz, as part of his latest tour. However, once the newsletter had gone out to everyone, I discover that he had decided not to grace Tenerife's shores after all!

Reasons given include "logistical requirements" - but perhaps more importantly, poor ticket sales.

Of the 13,000 possible tickets, less than half had been sold. The people who purchased tickets will have, apparently, to wait for refunds, as the ticket sellers say they have yet to be "authorised" to make them.

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